“What stories could this monument tell?” I wonder as I approach the Utah and the Civil War Monument. This monument stands on the south lawn of the Utah State Capitol. It quietly commemorates Utah’s role in a nation divided.
The Utah and the Civil War Monument may seem like an anomaly. Utah was far removed from the war’s battlefields. Yet, the Civil War touched this territory. The monument recognizes Utahns who protected vital communication lines. Native American tribes raided these lines.
When the Civil War began, the U.S. Army withdrew from the Utah Territory. Brigham Young offered soldiers to protect mail trails. President Lincoln agreed. A small cavalry company was formed. Later, it expanded to 106 men. These men patrolled but never engaged in battle. The Utah and the Civil War Monument honors these unsung heroes.
Colonel Robert T. Burton led 24 men. Captain Lot Smith commanded 106 men. The monument lists all 130 names. Though they saw no conflict their service was important. They secured overland mail and telegraph lines.
The Utah and the Civil War Monument also honors a fallen Utahn. Lieutenant Henry Wells Jackson served in the Union Army. He enlisted in the First Regiment, District of Columbia Volunteer Cavalry. Shot in battle he died from infection. His plaque is a recent addition.
The arrival of Colonel Patrick E. Connor was a dramatic event. He led 750 volunteer soldiers from California and Nevada. They established Fort Douglas in 1862. These soldiers guarded against raids. They also sought mineral deposits.
The Utah and the Civil War Monument stands as a testament. It embodies duty in the face of national crisis. It is a tribute to those who served. This monument shows how Utah played a part in the Civil War. It is more than stone and plaques. The Utah and the Civil War Monument represents commitment.